Education Committee Calls for Urgent Intervention to Address Infrastructure and Social Challenges in Schools

The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Education, Culture, Arts, Sports and Recreation, led by Hon. Priscilla Williams, conducted an oversight visit to Mmokeng High School in Kanana and Vuyani Mawethu Secondary School in Khuma, within the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality.
The visit formed part of the Committee’s oversight week programme that took place in the Dr. Kenneth Kaunda district aimed at strengthening accountability, transparency, and public participation in the education sector.

At Mmokeng High School, the Committee received a briefing from the Principal, Mr. Thabo Mamoge, who reported that while the school is generally functioning well, it faces persistent challenges such as vandalism, broken windows, leaking roofs, and classrooms without ceilings. He also highlighted concerns about teenage pregnancies, though noted an improvement compared to previous years.

Similarly, at Vuyani Mawethu Secondary School, Principal Mr. Peter Leeu reported that although teaching and learning continue effectively, the school grapples with electricity shortages, lack of power points in some classrooms, and inconsistent water supply. The high rate of teenage pregnancies remains a pressing concern, with the school collaborating with social workers to support affected learners and ensure they return to school after giving birth.

The Acting District Director, Ms. Mary Seokolo, briefed the Committee on the district’s process for addressing infrastructure needs, noting that requests from schools are escalated and attended to based on priority.

Hon. Williams urged the District Office to expedite interventions to resolve the electricity and infrastructure challenges affecting both schools. She also emphasized the importance of strengthening parental involvement and ensuring that cases involving underage learners are reported to the police.
“It is deeply concerning that schools are still battling basic infrastructure issues such as leaking roofs and lack of electricity. These conditions not only compromise the learning environment but also undermine the right to quality education. We urge the Department to act swiftly to address these challenges and ensure that no learner’s education is disrupted by preventable shortcomings,” said Hon. Williams.
The Committee further resolved to engage the Departments of Education and Agriculture to explore support for the establishment of a fully-fledged Agricultural Stream at Vuyani Mawethu Secondary School to enhance practical learning opportunities.
Ends